Whilst most definitely an amazing museum, brilliantly converted, the architecture and decoration of Musée d’Orsay was nevertheless very much anchored in the 80s, and in need of a bit of revision.

Instead, they opted for a major reboot that will take six years, part of which includes completely redoing the big attraction – the impressionist gallery. It’s been closed since 2009 and finally reopens on 20th October, the start of what they are calling the “Nouvel Orsay”…photos © Musée d’Orsay/Sophie Boegly, except the above photo © Musée d’Orsay

Although they’ve taken a step backwards for certain things (like their new ban on any photos being taken on the premises, even without a flash), the Musée d’Orsay is taking a step forward when it comes to presenting their amazing collections with the (no doubt expensive) decision to remodel many of the exhibition spaces.

It has to be said, many had started to look a bit drab after 25 years, and for anyone who knows the building, there are some pretty radical changes on the way:

– The post-impressionist galleries reopened last August, with newly-coloured walls– The room for temporary exhibitions has lost its numerous columns and expanses of marble, and is now to be a clearer, more modulable space.

– The Amont Pavilion gets a radical new look with parquet new open corridors and new colours, ready to receive the paintings by the European schools of decorative arts– The café de l’Horloge, which had become a giant, noisy cantine, should be more intimate and more contemporary, thanks to talented Brazilian brothers Fernando and Humberto Campana.– and of course, everyone want to discover the new impressionist galleries. Bye bye marble tiles and light walls, hello dark wooden floors and dark grey walls to make the paintings’ colours really pop!It’s quite an event in the Parisian art world, and more is to come from 2012 ro 2015, with work on more rooms. The museum is so please about reopening their main attraction that they’ve even done their own trailer for it! And it’s not half bad!

The new impressionist gallery at the musée d’Orsay (here) opens 20th October 2011.

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The Musée d’Orsay on Wikipedia : ici